Methods and apparatus for correcting input error in input apparatus

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus are provided for correcting an input error in an input apparatus capable of touch inputs of a first touch input scheme and a second touch input scheme. Upon detecting a touch input of the first touch input scheme, an activity corresponding to the detected touch input is executed and activity execution information corresponding to the activity is stored. The activity executed in accordance with the touch input of the first touch input scheme is cancelled, when a touch input of the second touch input scheme occurs before the touch input of the first touch input scheme is released or before a preset timer expires. The first touch input scheme and the second touch input scheme are different schemes.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a KoreanPatent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onJan. 5, 2011 and assigned Serial No. 10-2011-0000860, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an input apparatus capable ofa touch and a pen input, and more particularly, to a method andapparatus for detecting and correcting an input error in the inputapparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many display devices employ a touch screen input scheme in which a usermay input data by directly touching the screen using his or herfingertip or a stylus pen. This touch screen input scheme is mainlyadopted in personal mobile terminals such as, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a notebook computer, an All-in-One PersonalComputer (PC), a tablet PC, and a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP). Anintuitive and convenient user interface may be provided via the touchscreen input scheme, which specifically allows for the inputtinginformation about a position that a user has indicated by touching aspecific position on a display screen instead of using a keyboard, amouse, and physical buttons. A pen-based touch input scheme is suitablefor graphic works such as, for example, Computer-Aided Design (CAD).

The touch screen input scheme, which is also referred to as digitizerand an Electric Graphic Input Panel (EGIP), may be roughly classifiedinto a resistive scheme, a capacitive scheme, and an ElectroMagneticResonance (EMR) scheme, according to the method of detecting theposition indicated by the user.

The resistive scheme detects a position pressed according to pressure bydetecting a change in current with a Direct Current (DC) voltage appliedthereto. Specifically, the resistive scheme may detect a direct contactbetween two thin conductive layers on the screen due to pressure from afingertip or a stylus pen. The resistive scheme may detect any object,regardless of whether it is a conductor or a non-conductor, because thisscheme detects position by pressure.

The capacitive scheme detects a touch point using capacitance couplingwith an Alternating Current (AC) voltage applied thereto. Specifically,the capacitive scheme may detect only the conductive object, andrequires a contact area greater than or equal to a predetermined area toensure a detectable change in capacitance. Therefore, the capacitivescheme may detect a position when the user inputs data using his or herfingertip. However, when the user inputs data using a conductive tip,the capacitive scheme may not detect the position due to the smallcontact area caused by the conductive tip.

The EMR scheme employs a digitizer sensor substrate including an arrayof loop coils. Accordingly, if the user moves a pen, the pen is drivenby an AC signal to cause an oscillating magnetic field, which induces asignal in the coils. The position of the pen is detected based on thesignal induced in the coils.

Unlike the resistive scheme, the EMR scheme does not necessarily havethe sensor substrate disposed in front of a display module. Instead theEMR scheme may have the sensor substrate disposed at the rear of thedisplay module, because this scheme disposes a plurality of coils on thesubstrate and identifies a position of the pen by detecting a change inelectromagnetic field occurring by an access of the pen to the sensorsubstrate.

Accordingly, a multi-input apparatus capable of both a digitizer (touch)input of the EMR scheme and a touch input of the capacitive scheme maybe provided. However, when a part of the hand touches the touch screenduring pen input, an input unintended by the user may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to address at least the aboveproblems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present inventionprovides a method and apparatus for detecting and correcting an inputerror having occurred without user's intention in an input apparatuscapable of both a touch input of a capacitive scheme and a pen input ofan EMR scheme.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method isprovided for correcting an input error in an input apparatus capable oftouch inputs of a first touch input scheme and a second touch inputscheme. Upon detecting a touch input of the first touch input scheme, anactivity corresponding to the detected touch input is executed andactivity execution information corresponding to the activity is stored.The activity executed in accordance with the touch input of the firsttouch input scheme is cancelled, when a touch input of the second touchinput scheme occurs before the touch input of the first touch inputscheme is released. The first touch input scheme and the second touchinput scheme are different schemes.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusis provided for correcting an input error in an input apparatus capableof touch inputs of a first touch input scheme and a second touch inputscheme. The apparatus includes an input unit including a touch screenpanel for detecting a touch input of the first touch input scheme and apen input unit for detecting a touch input of the second touch inputscheme. The apparatus also includes a controller for, upon detecting thetouch input of the first touch input scheme, executing an activitycorresponding to the detected touch input and storing activity executioninformation corresponding to the activity, and for cancelling theactivity executed in accordance with the touch input of the first touchinput scheme, when a touch input of the second touch input scheme occursbefore the touch input of the first touch input scheme is released. Thefirst touch input scheme and the second touch input scheme are differentschemes.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a methodis provided for correcting an input error in an input apparatus capableof a touch input of a first touch input scheme and a touch input of asecond touch input scheme. Upon detecting the touch input of the firsttouch input scheme, starting a timer that operates for a preset time, anactivity corresponding to the detected touch input is executed, andactivity execution information corresponding to the activity is stored.The activity executed in accordance with the touch input of the firsttouch input scheme is cancelled, when the touch input of the secondtouch input scheme occurs before the timer expires. The first touchinput scheme and the second touch input scheme are different schemes.

In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention, anapparatus is provided for correcting an input error in an inputapparatus capable of a touch input of a first touch input scheme and atouch input of a second touch input scheme. The apparatus includes aninput unit including a touch screen panel for detecting the touch inputof the first touch input scheme and a pen input unit for detecting thetouch input of the second touch input scheme. The apparatus alsoincludes a controller for, upon detecting the touch input of the firsttouch input scheme, starting a timer that operates for a preset time,executing an activity corresponding to the detected touch input andstoring activity execution information corresponding to the activity,and for cancelling the activity executed in accordance with the touchinput of the first touch input scheme when the touch input of the secondtouch input scheme occurs before the timer expires. The first touchinput scheme and the second touch input scheme are different schemes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a display of aninput apparatus to which embodiments of the present invention areapplicable;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a flow of input events occurring duringtouch screen input;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating occurrence of an input error unintendedby a user during pen input;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flow of input events when an inputerror occurs as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating input results when an input errorunintended by a user has occurred during pen input;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of cancelling input eventsto correct an input error upon occurrence of an input error unintendedby a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an input errorcorrection apparatus, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a flow of an input error correctionoperation, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a flow of an input error correctionoperation, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar componentsmay be designated by the same or similar reference numerals althoughthey are illustrated in different drawings. Detailed descriptions ofconstructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoidobscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an input apparatuscapable of providing input based on different first and second touchinput schemes. Specifically, embodiments of the present inventionprovide a method and apparatus for detecting and correcting an inputerror unintended by a user in an input apparatus capable of a touchscreen input of a capacitive scheme (the first input scheme) and a peninput of an EMR scheme (the second input scheme).

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a display of aninput apparatus to which embodiments of the present invention areapplicable.

Referring to FIG. 1, the input apparatus, to which embodiments of thepresent invention are applicable, includes a display panel module 120having a general Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD)display panel or Organic Light Emitting Display (OLED) display panel fordisplaying images. The input apparatus also includes a Touch ScreenPanel (TSP) 110 disposed on the top of the display panel module 120 fordetecting a touch input of the capacitive scheme. The input apparatusfurther includes a digitizer module 130 disposed on the bottom of thedisplay panel module 120 for detecting a pen input of the EMR scheme.

When the display panel module 120 is embodied as the TFT-LCD displaypanel, the display panel module 120 may include a liquid crystal panelon which images are formed, and a backlight assembly for irradiatinglight to the rear of the liquid crystal panel. When the display panelmodule 120 is embodied as the OLED display panel, the display panelmodule 120 may include an upper electrode, an organic material layer, alower electrode, and a substrate.

In order for a user to conveniently input data using a pen, the inputapparatus may be set to nullify a touch input caused by the hand when adistance between the pen and the EMR sensor substrate is less than orequal to a pen recognition distance, such as, for example, 2 to 3centimeters (cm). Generally, however, when writing on paper, most peoplehabitually place the bottom of the hand holding the pen on the paperbefore writing, thus causing a possible unintended input error. In orderto prevent this input error, the user would have to place the pen on thetouch screen before putting the bottom of the hand thereon during peninput. However, this pose may be uncomfortable because it is differentfrom the general pen input pose. Accordingly, embodiments of the presentinvention provide a method and apparatus for automatically detecting andcorrecting the input error that occurs during pen input in an inputapparatus capable of both a touch input of the capacitive scheme and apen input of the EMR scheme.

Generally, events occurring by an input scheme, such as a mouse input, atouch screen input, and a pen input, may include three different typesof events: a Detect event occurring when an initial input is detected; aMove event occurring when input coordinates are changed with the inputbeing maintained; and a Release event occurring when the input isreleased.

Accordingly, the input apparatus may generally detect events accordingto the flow shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a flow of input events occurring duringtouch screen input. As shown in FIG. 2, during touch screen input, aDetect event 202 occurs from the initial contact, Move events 204 a-204c occur from the movement of an input position, and a Release event 206occurs if the input is released. The Move events 204 a-204 c may occurany number of times before the Release event 206 occurs. Further, theflow of input events may proceed directly from the Detect event 202 tothe Release event 206 without any Move events 204 a-204 c there between.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating occurrence of an input error unintendedby a user during pen input. As shown in FIG. 3, when a user performs apen input, the bottom of the user's hand may touch the screen before adistance between the pen and the screen is less than or equal to the penrecognition distance set in an EMR sensor. In this case, the inputapparatus may detect input events according to the flow shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flow of input events when an inputerror occurs according to FIG. 3. Generally, during pen input, thebottom of the hand touches the touch screen before the pen touches thetouch screen. Accordingly, a touch input by the hand is detected firstat Detect event 402 before the pen input is detected at Detect event410. After the Detect event 402, Move events 404 a-404 c by a hand inputmay occur. The Detect event 410 may occur before a Release event 406 ofthe touch input by the hand occurs. Additional Move events 404 d and 404e are entered via the hand or the pen after the Detect event 410.

FIG. 5 is a diagram that illustrates input results when an input errorunintended by a user has occurred during pen input. The input resultsshown in FIG. 5 occur due to the activities in FIG. 4. In this case, inaddition to a pen touch input 520 intended by the user, an unnecessaryinput 510 by a hand touch input occurs, which is unintended by the user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in order to correct thisinput error, if a Detect event by the pen occurs after a touch input bythe hand and before the touch input by the hand ist released, theexecution of activities having occurred by the hand touch inputs arecancelled. Thus, it is determined that the hand touch inputs areunintended inputs. For example, if a stroke was drawn by the hand touchinput, the drawn stroke may be deleted. If the screen was rotated by thehand touch input, the rotated screen may be restored back to theprevious screen.

Embodiments of the present invention store information about an activitycorresponding to each event during occurrence of events by the inputapparatus, and cancel the execution of the activity when the currenttouch input is determined as an erroneous input.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of cancelling input eventsto correct an input error upon occurrence of an input error unintendedby a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention. If a peninput starts after the hand first touched the touch screen, a Detectevent and Move events 610, having occurred by the hand touch inputsprior to the moment that a Detect event 620 by a pen input occurs, arecancelled, as shown in FIG. 6.

Because the Detect event 620 by the pen input has occurred before aRelease event by a hand input occurs, it is determined that the currenttouch input by the hand input corresponds to an unintended user event.Therefore, the activities executed by the events having occurred by thehand inputs are cancelled, thereby correcting the input errorsunintended by the user.

In another embodiment of the present invention, in order to correct aninput error, if a Detect event by the pen has occurred within a presettime after occurrence of a touch input by the hand, the execution ofactivities resulting from the hand touch inputs are cancelled. Thus, itis determined that the hand touch inputs are unintended erroneousinputs.

Generally, during pen input, even though a part of the hand firsttouched the touch screen, an input by the pen may occur immediately.Therefore, if a Detect event by the pen has occurred within a presettime after a touch input by the hand occurred, the execution ofactivities resulting from the hand touches may be cancelled.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an input errorcorrection apparatus, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the input error correction apparatus includes acommunication unit 720, an output unit 750, a storage 740, a controller710, and an input unit 730.

The input unit 730 includes a TSP 732 for detecting a touch input of thecapacitive scheme, and a pen input unit 733 for detecting a touch inputof the EMR scheme. The input unit 730 may further include an input meansfor receiving user inputs, such as a keyboard and a mouse.

The output unit 750, which may include, for example, an LCD or OLEDdisplay panel, outputs display information based on a control signalfrom the controller 710. The output unit 750 corresponds to the displaypanel module 120 in FIG. 1.

The communication unit 720 is used by the input error correctionapparatus to communicate with other devices.

The storage 740 stores information necessary for an operation of theinput error correction apparatus. In accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention, the storage 740 stores activity executioninformation when an activity corresponding to each touch input event isexecuted according to the touch input of the capacitive scheme. Thestored information includes information necessary to cancel the executedactivities if needed, such as, for example, state change information andsetting information for each activity.

The controller 710 controls components of the input error correctionapparatus.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, upondetecting a touch input of the capacitive scheme, the controller 710executes an activity corresponding to the detected input and storesactivity execution information in the storage 740. If a touch input ofthe EMR scheme has occurred before the touch input of the capacitivescheme is released, the controller 710 cancels the activity executed bythe touch input of the capacitive scheme.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, upondetecting a touch input of the capacitive scheme, the controller 710starts a timer that operates for a preset time, executes an activitycorresponding to the detected input, and stores activity executioninformation in the storage 740. If a touch input of the EMR scheme hasoccurred before the timer expires, the controller 710 cancels theactivity executed by the touch input of the capacitive scheme. The timermay be set to operate for 1 to 3 seconds.

If the pen accesses the touch screen within the pen recognition distanceduring pen input, the controller 710 does not execute activitiescorresponding to touch inputs of the capacitive scheme.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating input error correction, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG, 8, the controller 710 determines whether a Detectevent has occurred on the TSP 732 of the input unit 730, in step 810. Ifa Detect event has not occurred, the controller 710 awaits the Detectevent and repeats step 810. If a Detect event has occurred on the TSP732, the controller 710 proceeds to step 820.

In step 820, the controller 710 executes an activity corresponding tothe touch input, and stores activity execution information in thestorage 740. The storing of activity execution information is requiredfor cancellation of the executed activity if it is determined that thecurrent touch input is an input unintended by the user. Accordingly, thecontroller 710 stores in the storage 740 the information necessary tocancel the executed activities, such as, for example, state changeinformation and setting information for each activity.

The controller 710 determines whether a Release event has occurred onthe TSP 732, in step 830. If a Release event has occurred on the TSP732, the controller 710 ends the operation, determining that the currenttouch input is a normal touch screen input.

However, if a Release event has not occurred on the TSP 732 in step 830,the controller 710 determines whether a Detect event has occurred on thepen input unit 733, in step 840. If a Detect event has not occurred onthe pen input unit 733, the controller 710 returns to step 830 todetermine if a Release event has occurred on the TSP 732. If a Detectevent has occurred on the pen input unit 733, the controller 710 cancelsthe previous activity corresponding to the input on the TSP 732, in step850. Specifically it is determined that the touch input entered on theTSP 732 is unintended by the user. The controller 710 cancels theactivity based on the activity execution information stored in thestorage 740 in step 820.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating input error correction, accordingto another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the controller 710 determines whether a Detectevent has occurred on the TSP 732 of the input unit 730, in step 910. Ifa Detect event has not occurred, the controller 710 waits for the Detectevent and repeats step 910. If a Detect event has occurred on the TSP732, the controller 710 proceeds to step 920.

In step 920, the controller 710 sets a preset timer, executes anactivity corresponding to the touch input, and stores activity executioninformation. The storing of the activity execution information is forcancellation of the executed activity if it is determined that thecurrent touch input is unintended by the user. Accordingly, thecontroller 710 stores in the storage 740 the information necessary tocancel the executed activities, such as, for example, state changeinformation and setting information for each activity.

The controller 710 determines whether the timer set in step 920 hasexpired, in step 930. If the timer has expired in step 930, thecontroller 710 ends the operation, determining that the current touchinput is a normal touch screen input.

However, if the timer has not expired in step 930, the controller 710determines whether a Detect event has occurred on the pen input unit733, in step 940. Thus, it is determined whether a Detect event hasoccurred on the pen input unit 733 within a preset time (or a time setin the timer) after the initial Detect event occurred on the TSP 732.

If a Detect event has not occurred on the pen input unit 733 in step940, the controller 710 returns to step 930 to determine whether thetimer has expired. If a Detect event has occurred on the pen input unit733, the controller 710 cancels the previous activity corresponding tothe input on the TSP 732, in step 950. Thus, it is determined that thetouch input entered on the TSP 732 is unintended by the user. Thecontroller 710 cancels the activity based on the activity executioninformation stored in step 920.

As is apparent from the foregoing description of embodiments of thepresent invention, the input error correction methods and apparatus mayprovide a stable pen input environment by automatically detecting andcorrecting a touch input error which may occur due to the user'sunintended hand touches during pen input in an input apparatus capableof a touch screen input of the capacitive scheme and a pen input of theEMR scheme.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and detail may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A method for correcting an input error in an input apparatus capableof touch inputs of a first touch input scheme and a second touch inputscheme, comprising the steps of: upon detecting a touch input of thefirst touch input scheme, executing an activity corresponding to thedetected touch input and storing activity execution informationcorresponding to the activity; and cancelling the activity executed inaccordance with the touch input of the first touch input scheme, when atouch input of the second touch input scheme occurs before the touchinput of the first touch input scheme is released; wherein the firsttouch input scheme and the second touch input scheme are differentschemes.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the activitycomprises: executing an activity corresponding to a Detect event, whenthe Detect event occurs from the touch input of the first touch inputscheme; and executing an activity corresponding to a Move event, whenthe Move event occurs from the touch input of the first touch inputscheme.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein cancelling the activitycomprises: cancelling the activity executed in accordance with the touchinput of the first touch input scheme based on the stored activityexecution information, when a Detect event occurs from the touch inputof the second touch input scheme before the touch input of the firsttouch input scheme is released.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst touch input scheme is a capacitive touch input scheme and thesecond touch input scheme is an ElectroMagnetic Resonance (EMR) touchinput scheme.
 5. An apparatus for correcting an input error in an inputapparatus capable of touch inputs of a first touch input scheme and asecond touch input scheme, comprising: an input unit including a touchscreen panel for detecting a touch input of the first touch input schemeand a pen input unit for detecting a touch input of the second touchinput scheme; and a controller for, upon detecting the touch input ofthe first touch input scheme, executing an activity corresponding to thedetected touch input and storing activity execution informationcorresponding to the activity, and for cancelling the activity executedin accordance with the touch input of the first touch input scheme, whena touch input of the second touch input scheme occurs before the touchinput of the first touch input scheme is released; wherein the firsttouch input scheme and the second touch input scheme are differentschemes.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein an activity correspondingto a Detect event is executed when the Detect event occurs from thetouch input of the first touch input scheme, and an activitycorresponding to a Move event is executed when the Move event occursfrom the touch input of the first touch input scheme.
 7. The apparatusof claim 5, wherein the controller cancels the activity executed inaccordance with the touch input of the first touch input scheme based onthe stored activity execution information, when a Detect event occursfrom the touch input of the second touch input scheme before the touchinput of the first touch input scheme is released.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the first touch input scheme is a capacitive touchinput scheme and the second touch input scheme is an ElectroMagneticResonance (EMR) touch input scheme.
 9. A method for correcting an inputerror in an input apparatus capable of a touch input of a first touchinput scheme and a touch input of a second touch input scheme,comprising the steps of: upon detecting the touch input of the firsttouch input scheme, starting a timer that operates for a preset time,executing an activity corresponding to the detected touch input, andstoring activity execution information corresponding to the activity;and cancelling the activity executed in accordance with the touch inputof the first touch input scheme, when the touch input of the secondtouch input scheme occurs before the timer expires; wherein the firsttouch input scheme and the second touch input scheme are differentschemes.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein executing the activitycomprises: executing an activity corresponding to a Detect event, whenthe Detect event occurs from the touch input of the first touch inputscheme; and executing an activity corresponding to a Move event, whenthe Move event occurs from the touch input of the first touch inputscheme.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein cancelling the activitycomprises: cancelling the activity executed in accordance with the touchinput of the first touch input scheme based on the stored activityexecution information, when a Detect event occurs from the touch inputof the second touch input scheme before the timer expires.
 12. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the first touch input scheme is a capacitivetouch input scheme and the second touch input scheme is anElectroMagnetic Resonance (EMR) touch input scheme.
 13. An apparatus forcorrecting an input error in an input apparatus capable of a touch inputof a first touch input scheme and a touch input of a second touch inputscheme, comprising: an input unit including a touch screen panel fordetecting the touch input of the first touch input scheme and a peninput unit for detecting the touch input of the second touch inputscheme; and a controller for, upon detecting the touch input of thefirst touch input scheme, starting a timer that operates for a presettime, executing an activity corresponding to the detected touch inputand storing activity execution information corresponding to theactivity, and for cancelling the activity executed in accordance withthe touch input of the first touch input scheme when the touch input ofthe second touch input scheme occurs before the timer expires; whereinthe first touch input scheme and the second touch input scheme aredifferent schemes.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein an activitycorresponding to a Detect event is executed when the Detect event occursfrom the touch input of the first touch input scheme, and an activitycorresponding to a Move event is executed when the Move event occursfrom the touch input of the first touch input scheme.
 15. The apparatusof claim 13, wherein the controller cancels the activity executed inaccordance with the touch input of the first touch input scheme based onthe stored activity execution information, when a Detect event occursfrom the touch input of the second touch input scheme before the timerexpires.
 16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first touch inputscheme is a capacitive touch input scheme and the second touch inputscheme is an ElectroMagnetic Resonance (EMR)touch input scheme.